The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-30
THE CITY BY THE SEA.
VIEWPOINTS TRADITIONAL GRAND
EUR AND MODERN SPLENDOR.

EUR AND MODERN SPLENDOR.
Sea Breezes and Social Aspects
Modistes at the Seaside Trouville
Toilettes and Casino Costumes
Exit Economy - Japanese and
Arabian Cottons - Dinner Dress -
Charming Costume for Young Girl
Newport Belles-American Beauty
in English Guise-Bathing Costumes
and Beach Chairs.
Newport, July Whatever other
nlaces may boast of in the way of fashion
and attraction, there is nothing in this
country, or any other, quite like Newport.
II has never been ''boomedn like Lenox;
,,rices Of real estate here have never ''gone
no" in the startling fashion of some other
Younger yet more pretentious resorts; yet
rs a permanently attractive summer city,
Newport may always be counted upon; no
other possessing its peculiar combination of
modern luxury with quaint, old-time, village
simplicity, and no other the wealth of old
trees and fine driving roads, with the extent
and beauty Of beach and shore.
Newport has history. Not much of
one to be sure, beside the old historic and
LEGENDARY associations which impart the
charm to so many European resorts but
enough to give it varied interest, to rid it of
that eXasperating faculty OF "newness"
which is SO conspicuous feature Of our
life There is q Staid, and settled and sober
element back OF its aspect of luxury, which,
after all, shows less in gliding and display
thon in the air of finish which we know in
this country means cost. Money has been
gradually accruing in Newport, till it has
become a summer home for only the very
wealthy; but it is not SO much the cost of a
cottage in Newport, as the cost of living il
it, which limits its availability.
Naturally there are cliff sites and
avenue .'blocls" which foot up to enormous
rates; but there are numerous pretty and
shaded streets, lined with charming villa
like residences, which cost q thousand or
fifteen hundred dollars TO rent for three
months. but can be bought-when Occas-
R,ually one is for sale-for from $4,000 to
$4,000. with frontage of lawn Or garden
and noble old trees thrown in.
These houses are liked all the better if
they are not new, if the doors are sunken in
the wall the windows deep seated and the
hall wide and CHEEKY as was the fashion of
fifty years ago, with living rooms opening
on either side of it.
There is an old, salt flavor about New
port of which, with all its modern luxury,
It does not seem to be ashamed. Old sea
captains-many-have settled down there,
and, being a naval station, quite a contin-
gent OF naval officers and their wives are
constantly quartered there. There are resi-
dents who can recsll the traditions of a New
port that was commercially greater than
New York; more distinguished as a centre
than Washington; and the house is still
standing where colonial bellies danced in
brOcadod satin slippers at a ball given by
Rochambeau.
Bellevue avenue was probably not in ex-
istence then; now it is the principal street
and full of the most widely contrasting ele-
ments. Promenade and thorOughfare, it is
still village street, with narrow sidewalks
and cobblestone roadways, only partly re-
deemed from its original sin of rutty UNI
evenneSs. Fine residences set in park-like
grounds, hobnob with little tenementS, the
lower part of which are let in Offices, the
upper part in lodgings. Village carts,
which ladies drive, the tiger sitting at the
back, equipages in all the glory Of silver
mounted harness and magnificent ramrods
in livery pass and repass in perpetual re-
view or stop before the little frame stores or
shops above, below and on either side of the
Casino, which are filled with the most ex-
extravagant wares. There is no medium.
They represent the highest, most exclusive
and wealthieSt trade in Paris and New
York, and a fortune could be spent in
gowns or even in hair brushes i'll a single
morning.
The best known, French, importing
mOdisteS all have branch houses here during
the season; and their selection of goods is
made from their richest importation But
they are limited to certain classes of goods
and DESIGNS and INOSeaCS oil tbn phara
tics Of toilettes seen at Trouville or any gay
french watering place.
There are country morning dresses and
walking dresses and dinner dresses, of the
richest and gayest and prettiest: but there
are few or no evening dresses of the char
acter required during the winter season i'll
New FORK. Full evening dress is indeed
neither looked for nor needed. Driving,
dlpners and luncheons are the entertain
mentS most in vogue; and though the whole
ensemble Of a certain portion OF New York
mas been transferred, for the time, to the
narrow streets and wide sea-spaceS of the
old, sea town, and with it, It's habit Of lux
ullouS living, yet the life seeks more of the
outof-doors and eats less into the night
COTTON DRESSES
are IN the ascendant this year, here as well
as abroad. But not the cotton with gath
cred skirts and simple hem or hounce at
Tile bottom, such as our mothers or grand
mothers wore. No! These are draped and
mounted and finished Just as deliberately as
il they were silk and the cost is little less.
Here Is a simple dress" said a saleswOman
toa customer, land am sure Mr. Blank
VIII make some concession to you; particu-
larry II you take the foulard." Certainly"
promptly replied that lady, you shall have
the cotton dress for S75 and the foulard for
$50"
The figured and striped cottons and
@tncs, the checkered and striped 2ephyrS,
ghlShans, the soft finished cambricS and
ctepy, Seml-transparent new cotton mate
IlaS are fine Us silk and are usually made
Eyer SILK. Occasionally the underskirt or
uIlii8 may be of plain Saline or chambray
VI uie ground color of the outside; but
slk ilhlng is far more general. A silk lin
iii5 Tor cotton skirt sounds like an absur-
ty, nut fashion pays no atten-
uo9 TO anything but effects,
ana besides, the cost must seem to be put
12llewhere. The lining is not run in with
Jnc seams as formerly, but made into an in
u'pendcnt skirt, into which the steels are
tuJ mat form the tounure, and upon this
.'e lreSs skirt is mounted and arranged III
"S%9'aIy lndescribabie folds and draperies.
nc SIDES are panellcd with ribbons or vel
5ey' ribbons are sometimes put on as Dor
E g 10 the bottom of the skirt before the side
iIS OF uraperies are laid, and the bodice Is
mounted with vest collar, cuffs or plastron,
n,"lc,,nllng IN color and material the velvet
SIX ribbon upon the skirt. Loopngs
u, .,lag 20,